It took a pair of very interesting games on Monday, but the field is finally set for the MLB Playoffs and things get underway Tuesday afternoon in Houston. Of course, nothing is ever that simple. Due to the doubleheader against the Mets and an injury to Chris Sale, we don’t currently know who is going to start Game 1 for the Braves. You’ll have to stay aware for updates throughout the day.
For everything else, let’s dive into this four-game slate.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Postseason Opener [$50K to 1st]
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PITCHER
Stud
Corbin Burnes, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals, $8,300 – This probably won’t come as a shock, but $8.3K is the lowest salary that Burnes’ has had all season. That’s a product of a small slate. It’s certainly not a product of recent performance, because Burnes finished 2024 looking as strong as he has in an Orioles’ uniform. In 30.0 innings in September, the veteran posted a 1.20 ERA with a 2.77 FIP and a 27.7% strikeout rate. That last stat is crucial, as Burnes registered just a 23.1% strikeout rate for the season as a whole — the worst mark of his career as a starter. He’ll also draw a fantastic matchup on Tuesday. Since September 1, the Royals rank dead-last in baseball in ISO (.099) and wRC+ (61).
Value
Luis Severino, New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers, $7,200 – By winning Game 1 of Monday’s doubleheader, the Mets were able to save Severino for Game 1 of the Wild Card Round. The RHP isn’t exactly an ace, but he has pitched quite well since the All-Star break, registering a 3.60 xFIP and a 26.2% strikeout rate in his last 72.1 innings of work. Meanwhile, the Brewers’ bats have been struggling the past few weeks. It’s been a little lost in the midst of a sweat-free division crown, but in September, Milwaukee paired the league’s seventh-highest strikeout rate (26.2%) with a lousy 82 wRC+. Not ideal.
INFIELD
Stud
Pete Alonso, New York Mets at Milwaukee Brewers, $4,600 – Alonso wasn’t the best version of himself in 2024, but he still finished the season with 34 home runs and a .219 ISO. If there’s one thing Alonso is always a threat to do, it’s leave the ball park. In fact, since his rookie campaign in 2019, no National League player has hit as many long balls (226). That’s important on Tuesday. Freddy Peralta ($7,900) is great. However, if the RHP has had an Achilles’ heel, it’s the home run. RHBs managed 1.87 homers per nine off Peralta in his 32 starts.
Stud
Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals, $4,500 – It was a rough second-half for Rutschman, yet the backstop’s numbers versus left-handed pitching remain impressive on the whole. In 182 plate appearances within the split, Rutschman slashed .329/.390/.512 with a 159 wRC+. Cole Ragans ($8,800) isn’t the kind of LHP you usually stack against, yet there’s no denying that Rutschman will be in his preferred handedness matchup.
Value
Xander Bogaerts, San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves, $3,900 – A horrid start to the season and a lengthy stay on the IL ruined Bogaerts’ overall numbers, but the veteran infielder was solid in the year’s second-half, posting a .292 average and a 115 wRC+ in his final 255 plate appearances. With his price tag set below $4K, Bogaerts is going to be a viable value asset against whoever ends up starting for the Braves — especially if it’s Ian Anderson ($6,000). Anderson’s consistently posted reverse-splits and his 4.89 FIP in Triple-A is pretty underwhelming.
OUTFIELD
Stud
Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego Padres vs. Atlanta Braves, $5,500 – Tatis has been at his best in right-on-right matchups this season, sporting a .253 ISO and a 146 wRC+ in his 320 plate appearances within the split. Like his aforementioned teammate, an IL stint sidetracked most of Tatis’ campaign, yet the All-Star has been his usual self when healthy, possessing a 99th percentile hard hit rate (55.8%) and a 96th percentile expected wOBA (.393). He’s an amazing bet to do damage against Anderson or a Braves’ bullpen that is completely taxed after a doubleheader.
Stud
Michael Harris II, Atlanta Braves at San Diego Padres, $4,900 – There’s no matchup stuff here against Michael King ($8,100). Harris’ viability on this slate is purely good vibes. The outfielder was having an awful season entering September, but a switch flipped when the calendar turned. In 113 plate plate appearances in the month, Harris slashed .330/.354/.613 with a 162 wRC+. Heck, he hit half of his 16 home runs in the last 30 days. That’s some impressive stuff. Harris will bat leadoff on Tuesday. Atlanta needs him to have a massive performance.
Value
Austin Slater, Baltimore Orioles vs. Kansas City Royals, $2,500 – Fun fact: It’s been almost two weeks since the Orioles last faced a left-handed starter. Do you know who hit leadoff for Baltimore back on September 17? You guessed it. It was Austin Slater. The 31-year-old owns a career 121 wRC+ against southpaws. If he’s atop the Orioles’ lineup for Game 1 — as crazy as that sounds — he’s obviously a name to consider at just $2.5K.
Set your DraftKings fantasy baseball lineups here: MLB $150K Postseason Opener [$50K to 1st]
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All views expressed are my own. I am an employee of DraftKings and am ineligible to play in public DFS or DKSB contests.
